PHIL BINNER got the bird – literally – during Embsay's Mewies Solicitors Craven League First Division match at Foulridge.

The Embsay bowler's delivery was missing off stump until it was deflected onto the wickets by a fast-flying bird, which was killed, and the umpire gave Foulridge skipper John Lickess out.

Foulridge player Fred Brooker-Carey explained: "The bowler bowled a decent ball just outside off stump. John played the line of the ball on off stump just in case it swing in.

"The ball kept its line outside off stump. However, a swallow or swift chose this moment to fly across the wicket just in front of John.

"The ball hit the bird and deviated onto the wicket and the umpire gave him out!"

Lickess was doubly unlucky, though, as the umpire should not have raised his finger.

The incident is covered in MCC Law 23.4 (b) (vi) regarding when a dead ball should be given.

It states if "the striker is distracted by any noise movement or in any other way while his is preparing to receive or receiving a delivery. This shall apply whether the source of distraction is within the game or outside it."

Helped by that freak dismissal, Binner finished with 4-47 and Josh Robinson 4-33 as the hosts were dismissed for 113, Embsay reaching the target with five wickets down in 24 overs, with Joe Holt hitting 48 and Morgan Davies 33.

Only three Sutton batsmen reached double figures at Beckfoot Lane as Bingley Congs dismissed them for 83, with Chris Walker top-scoring with 23. This was in reply to Congs' 152, Justin Holdsworth bagging 6-36.

Thornton-in-Craven are still leading the Second Division, despite being well beaten at struggling Long Lee, who made 235-7, No 3 Lee Humphreys retiring on 27 after suffering what he thought was a heart attack.

Jonny Martin took 3-57 for the visitors, who were then dismissed for 76, Brian Laycock not batting because of a damaged foot.

Batsmen did not make much impact for promotion-chasing Cowling either as they only made 128, with Ajmal Choudhry scoring 39 before they collapsed from 93-2. Denholme romped home by seven wickets in 25.2 overs.

Matt Lloyd was in the runs again for Glusburn but his 84 provided more than half of their 165-9 as they recovered from 41-5, adding 99 for the sixth wicket with Nick Williamson (29).

However, Oakworth Seconds won by four wickets with three overs to spare after Steve Brown took 4-29 for Glusburn.

James Heseltine (3-20) and Caspar Bean (3-41) were among the wickets for Bradley as visitors Airedale made 150. But, despite 31 from Harry Andrews, Bradley fell seven runs short.

Gargrave are still bottom by two points but made it two wins in as many weeks by defeating Ingrow by two wickets at Hainsworth Wood Road.

John Beckwith (5-48) and Harry McEneaney (4-67) helped to restrict the home side to 151, McEneaney (31no) then showing Gargrave the way after wicket-keeper Joe Wood had scored 41.

Cononley have been beaten again and have to share the Third Division leadership with Haworth Road Meths and Riddlesden.

In a match that was reduced to 25 overs per side, Barrowford made 115-6, Jack Hatton taking 3-37 but Cononley only had three men in double figures as they were dismissed for 93, No 8 Michael Beer top-scoring with 22.

Veteran Brian Hodgson made 53 for Embsay but it was not enough to prevent Haworth Road Meths from triumphing by 30 runs.

Simon Holt's 5-47 from 15 overs helped to restrict visitors Meths to 166-7 but Embsay could only reply with 136-9.

More thrilling was Skipton CI's one-wicket victory at Riddlesden, Alex Horsfield taking 5-17 and John Stuttard 3-44 in the hosts' modest 103.

The visitors were 21-5 and 47-7 but got home on the back of No 7 Tom Mitchum's 42.

Not being called Oldfield seems to be a handicap if you want to bowl for Thornton-in-Craven.

Dad Maurice didn't have much luck, conceding 31 off three overs, but his cousin, off-spinner Phil, was more successful with 3-20, and Maurice's sons Jamie (5-44) and Dan (2-64) helped to finish Fourth Division visitors Hepworth & Idle off for 173.

Skipper Dan then made 63 not out and opener Paul Ellis 32 as the hosts won by three wickets with 16 balls to spare.

Glusburn rattled up 239 at home to Foulridge but still lost by two wickets in a last-ball thriller.

Richard McCullough (74) and skipper Mark Johnston (45) led the way for the hosts but the bowling of Josh Banks (3-58) and Johnston (3-59) was not quite enough to derail Foulridge.

Tom Storr (4-26) induced a Haworth collapse from 146-2 to 183-8 but basement boys Gargrave couldn't take advantage at Skipton Road as only three men made double figures in their 97, Carl Tetley leading the way with 28.

Tony Walton was an easy choice as man of the match as Sutton continue to lead the way in the Fifth Division.

He top-scored with 64 in their 137 and then took 6-46 as Long Lee fell 11 runs short in a tense affair at Royd Hill.

Christian Paulat-Briggs (38) was also instrumental in Sutton's victory but Cowling remain on their heels following a five-wicket victory at third-placed Sandy Lane.

Avijeet Ghosh (3-38) and young Jodi Town-Jones (3-16) were successful in Sandy Lane's 165 before Sajid Shafait (57no) and Steve Dalby (36) helped to carry Cowling to victory.

No win was as comprehensive as Bradley's however, as Skipton CI were trounced by 202 runs at Sandylands.

Teenage opener James Robinson (67), Matt Buckmaster (63) in the middle order and John Drake (55) in the lower order all cashed in as Bradley set an imposing 259-6, and the home side were then rolled over for just 57 as Andy Holmes returned 6-17 and Robinson 2-9.

The efforts of Paul Hogg (31) and Jonathan Crossley (3-34) were not enough to prevent Cononley from suffering a six-wicket defeat at home to Ingrow.